Israel and Lebanon agree to Washington-mediated ceasefire

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire, a tripartite statement from both governments and the U.S. State Department announced. The cessation of hostilities is conditional on the Lebanese fundamentalist militant group Hezbollah completely halting its attacks and withdrawing its operatives from south of the Litani River. If implemented, the pact would open the door to relaunching peace talks between the United States and Iran.

The State Department specified that the agreement was reached during the fourth round of talks held between the two governments in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday, amid a stalemate in negotiations between the United States and Iran after Israel expanded its offensive in Lebanon into the southern suburbs of Beirut. Tehran had conditioned any progress in those talks on a genuine halt to the Israeli offensive.

“The two sides agreed with the guidance of the United States to swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors,” the joint statement says in reference to Hezbollah. “These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement.”

Israel and Lebanon had already agreed to a ceasefire last month after Israel invaded in March to punish Hezbollah, which had opened fire on Israeli territory in support of Iran, its major backer. That original truce collapsed almost immediately, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — reluctant to see Washington and Tehran reach a peace deal — refused to stop encroaching on Lebanese territory.

But Israel’s order to evacuate Beirut’s Shia-majority Dahieh suburb and the threat of bombardment pushed Iran to announce a suspension of negotiations with the United States. And it exhausted the patience of Donald Trump, who was eager to secure a deal with Tehran. That day there were two calls between the U.S. president and the Israeli prime minister, during one of which the Republican, in a heated exchange, reportedly called his counterpart a “fucking lunatic,” among a range of other outbursts. After those exchanges, Trump announced that Israel would not attack Beirut or its environs and that Hezbollah would also refrain from firing. He said negotiations between Washington and Tehran would continue “at full speed.” Yet, despite his words, Israel and Hezbollah resumed their crossfire a few hours later.

This Wednesday, Lebanon reported that Israeli drones had killed at least six people in the south of its territory. Israel, for its part, said it had intercepted a hostile device likely launched by Hezbollah.

With the agreement announced this Wednesday in Washington, Israel and Lebanon have also committed to expand their direct talks to build confidence and resolve other outstanding issues between them. The two governments will meet in the week of June 22 to try to reach a “comprehensive agreement,” the statement says. The United States will continue “facilitating communication between the parties in the interim,” it adds.

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